Part 3/7:
One of the major factors contributing to Cousins’ difficulties appears to stem from a shift away from his historically successful play-action passing style. Over his career, Cousins excelled in play-action situations, relying heavily on these formations to mask defensive pressures and provide him the opportunity to read coverage without as much pressure. However, under the current offensive scheme, the Falcons utilize fewer play-action plays—placing more demands on Cousins to execute dropback passes. This change has led to increased scrutiny and has forced him to pay greater attention to defensive alignments and protection schemes, which he seems less comfortable executing.